Subtopic:" Getting From Where I Am To Where I Need To Be"

Text: 2 Cor. 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (vs18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord".

Gal.2:20 " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me".

1 John 3:2-3 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.(vs3) and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure"

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary page 75, on 2 Cor.3:18 concerning the "Glorious Transformation" "Faith in Christ and fellowship with Christ are the forces which produce assimilation to Christ. The image which is beheld seems to infix itself upon the mirror-like soul that receives it. The life of faith thus serves to carry on a gradual process of spiritual assimilation. The progression is denoted by the phrase, "from glory to glory", by which we understand, not earthly splendor, but spiritual excellence and perfection. And the agency is indicated by the expression here used, "as by the Lord the Spirit". Because he is the Spirit, the Lord has access to the heart, and renews, hallows, and glorifies the nature to which he makes himself graciously and divinely known. And there seems to be no limit to this most blessed process. In fact, the future state appears to offer the most amazing scope for its continuation :"We shall be like Christ; for we shall see him as he is".

Subtopic: Lord Take Me Higher

Text: Phi. 3:7-15"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (vs8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(vs9) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God  by faith:(vs10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (vs13) Brethern I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God  in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you".  

Eph.3:16-19 " That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (vs17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, (vs18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath, and length, and depth, and height;(vs19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God".

Heb.6:1-3 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (vs2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (vs3) And this will we do, if God permit.”

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary pages118-119 on Phi. 3:12-16 "The nearer we draw to Christ, the more we feel our own unworthiness. The light of Christ's holiness, manifested in the hearts of the saints, brings out into clearer light the exceeding sinfulness of sin. This very sense of imperfection urges the Christian to sustained effort. He is never satisfied  with himself, therefore he always presses onward. He does not dwell with complacency on his attainments, but forgets the progress which he has made; in view of the far greater height which remains to scale, he throws himself into the work with ever-increasing energy. The crown of righteousness is laid up for all who love the appearing of the Lord. God is calling us thither, calling us upward, to higher degrees of the spiritual life now, to the perfection of that life in heaven. The prize of that upward calling is the heavenly glory. It is the end for which the Christian lives, which makes life worth having, worth living".

Subtopic: " I Must Be What I am Becoming"

Text Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move ,and have our being; as certain of your poets have said, For we are also his offspring".

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".

2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace be with you".

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary page 135 on 2 Cor.5:17 "The believer has died with Christ. Christ is his Substitute, has born his sins, has made complete satisfaction for his guilt. By faith he is so united to Christ that what Christ has done is imparted to him. He is thus new in relation to God. He was condemned; now he is justified, The believer partakes of the life of Christ. He is "risen with Christ"(Col.3:1).he has received the Spirit of Christ. having been justified, he is now being sanctified. The likeness of the Redeemer is being wrought upon  and in him by the Holy Ghost. There is thus a "new creation". The old life was a life of sin, but the new life to which he has risen is a life of righteousness. The love of Christ constrains him, to live, not to himself, but to Christ".     

In the believer's spirit; speech; character; acts; plans, purposes, desires, ect. " All things are become new". There is no part of the believer's life from which the newness should be absent. Whilst not yet perfect, manifestly a great change has taken place:"old things are passed away"